Machine for applying adhesive stamps to envelopes and the like



Feb. 28, 1928. 1,661,005

7 R. MOHN MACHINE FOR APPLYING ADHESIVE STAMPS TO ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE Filed March 1926 H I *fi :mmglm r! Mali M Hui- $4.. I

Patented Feb. 28,1928.

UNITED STATES BUDOLF moan, or SULGEN, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 wILLY s'r. GALLEN, SWITZERLAND.

V 1,661,005 PATENT OFFICE.

Momma, or

MACHINE FOR ABPLYING ADHESIVE STAMPS T0 ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed March 3, 1926, Srial No. 92,079, and in Switzerland November 2, 1925.

This invention relates to a machine for fixing adhesive stamps to envelopes and the like and consists 11$ the provision of a rotatable casing containing a stamp strip and having means, controlledbya handle whereby the casing is rotated, for feeding the strip through a circun iferential ,slot in the casing, a moistening pad and a presser roll being arranged so as to contact with the extended strip for applying moisture to the same and for sticking it to the envelope.

Fig. 1 'of the accompanying drawings represents a vertical section of the apparatus, and

Fig. 2, a plan of the same showing the casing in section. V u

Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views showing the feeding mechanism in different positions. p g 1 A base plate 1 is formed with a step bearing 2 for a vertical shaft 3 which carries a cylindrical casing 6. The latter, which is closed at the top and open at the bottom, contains a drum 4 which is also secured to the shaft 3 so that casing and drum can be rotated together and detached together with the shaft from the base 1. The drum 4 is adapted to hold a stamp strip roll for the admittance of which the bottom cover of the drum is detaohably connected to the body of the same by means of pins 28. The strip is fed through a tangential channel which connects the drum with the circumference of the casing 6 and opens through a slot in the latter.

The structure isrotated by means of a crank handle 9 the shaft 8 of which is carried by a frame 29 arranged inside the casing so that it can swing about the shaft 3 and about the drum l. The shaft 8 is brought up through a slot 7 in the top wall of the casing 6, and this slot determines the angle through which the frame 29 can be swung by the shaft relative to the drum and to the casing. The movement. of the handle and of the frame 29 relative to the drum is utilized for feeding the stamp strip, for which purpose a feeding claw 24 is arranged so that it can enter into engagement with the strip through a circumferential elongated slot in the drum. The claw 24 is con nected to a carrier which is pivotally held by the frame 29 and which is rocked by the shaft 8 when the handle 9 is operated.

7 When the handle 9 is moved in the clockwise direction, the claw 24 is applied to the stamp str1p. A movement of the handle in the opposite direction causes the claw to be released from the strip. The displacement of the claw relative to the drum while in engagement with the stamp strip roll causes the latter to be turned and the strip to be extended through the slot in the casing 6. The length of the slot 7 is chosen so that each extension of the stamp stripv 5 equals one or the desired number of stamps.

For moistening the extended stamp, a pad 13, fed from a cylindrical container 12 is arranged so as to be swept by the stamp as the latter followsthe rotationof the casing G. The container has a detachable cover 14 and is carried by aspindle 15 connected to a pivoted plate 17 arranged below the base 1. The spindle 15 passes through aslot in the base and allows the plate to turn about its pivot 16 and the container 12 to recede from the casing (5." A spring 18 opposes the movement.

At the other side of the base 1 a similar arrangement is made for a presser roll 19, the latter being carried by a pivoted plate and controlled by a spring 20.

In front of the presser roll 19-there is a table 21 on which the envelope can be supported edgeways for introduction between the presser roll and the casing (i. The table 21 is movable about a pivot 22.

Acounter 26is arranged inside the easing 6 for recording the number of operations, the numbers being visible through a slot in the casing. The counter is operated by means of a link 27which pivoted to the frame 29 so as to follow its displacement and which rocks a lever on the counter.

Behind the feeding slot in the casing 6 there is a resiliently supported, tangentially arranged plate 11 which follows the casing and supports the extended stamp during the moistening and fixing operation.

The plate is provided with lugs 30 whereby it is pivotally held on a pin 31 secured to a bracket 32 inside the casing 6. The free end of the plate is fitted with a plunger 33 which works in an aperture in the casing wall and bears against a blade spring 84. The latter is secured to the bracket 32 by means of a screw 35.

The action is as follows:

For each operation the casing is turned round once in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 4 and by means of a crank handle 9. The casing is stopped after each operation, the position of the elements as the casing stopsbeing shown in Fig. 4. For the next operation the handle is first pulled back until the shaft 8 reaches the opposite end of the slot 7 and is then again moved forwards, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. During the rearward motion of the handle, the claw 24 is withdrawn from the stamp strip roll. As the forward motion begins, the claw is reapplied to the roll, and a new stamp is projected through the casing 6 while the handle shaft 8 returns to the forward end of the slot 7 By the engagement of the shaft with the casing at the end of the slot 7 the casing is compelled to participate in the movement, and the projected stamp is taken past the moistening pad 13 which doubles it back upon the plate 11 and applies the moisture. As the moistened stamp approaches the presser roll 19 the envelope, supported on the table 21, is introduced between it and the roll, and the stamp will then be affixed to the envelope as both pass between the roller and the casing 6. At the opposite side of the presser roll, the afiixed stamp is torn from the end of the strip, whereupon the process is repeated.

The presser roll 19 is preferably covered with rubber.

As previously intimated, the feeding movement may be extended to cover more than one stamp if required.

I claim:

1. A machine for fixing adhesive stamps to envelopes and the like, comprising a retatable, cylindrical casing having at its circumference a vertical slot, means for holding a stamp strip roll within said casing, means for guiding the strip from the roll to said slot, a handle for rotating the casing, means operated by said handle for feeding the stamp strip through the guiding means and through the vertical casing slot, a pad arranged so as to contact with the extended stamp strip for molstening the same, a

presser roll arranged so as to bear against the casing, and a table serving as a guide for feeding an envelope between the presser roll and the moistened stamp.

2. The structure claimed in claim 1 and resiliently yielding supports for the moistening padas well as for the presser roll.

3. The structure claimed in claim 1 and a spring connected to the circumference of the casing so as to support the extended stamps while they are moistened and applied to the envelope.

4. The structure claimed in claim 1 in which the means for holding the stamp strip roll is in the form of a drum arranged centrally within the casing and in which the means for guiding the strip tothe vertical casing slot is in the form of a channel leading from the drum to the slot.

5. A machine for fixing adhesive stamps to envelopes and the like, comprising a rotatable cylindrical casing having at its circumference a vertical slot, a drum arranged centrally within the casing for the reception of a stamp strip roll, a channel for leading-the strip from said drum to the slot in the casing, said drum being formed with a circumferential slot, stamp-feeding means comprising a frame arranged to swing about the axis of said drum, and a feeding claw pivotally held by said frame so that it can be turned into engagement with the stamp strip roll through said circumferential slot in the drum, the operating handle being connected to said feeding claw so as to turn it into feeding engagement with the stamp strip in one direction of movement and so as to release it from the same in the other direction, the casing being formed with a slot through which the operating handle projects and in which it can move relative to thecasing through the distance required for each feeding of the stamp strip,

RUDOLF MOHN. 

